PASADENA, CA–Over two hundred Armenian, Jewish, Congolese and Darfur activists joined together on April 21, 2009 for a panel discussion to mark acts of man’s inhumanity against man. The event, which was held at the Pasadena Jewish Temple, was co-sponsored by the Armenian National Committee, Pasadena Chapter, and included the participation of experts on the Holocaust, the Darfur and Congo Genocides and the Armenian Genocide.
“The power and importance of this genocide commemoration event was in the unity of purpose that brought diverse communities together,” remarked Pasadena ANC Executive Director Ishkhan Boghosian. “This evening we learned about the incredible pain and suffering genocide inflicts on its victims and subsequent generations. And we also rededicated ourselves to ending the denial of the Armenian Genocide and stopping the ongoing genocide in Darfur,” Boghosian added.
The genocide commemoration began with opening remarks by Rabbi Joshua Levine Grater of the Pasadena Jewish Temple. He then welcomed a number of young activists who participated in an emotional candle lighting ceremony, in which candles were lit in the memory of genocide victims from Darfur, from the Jewish Holocaust and from the Armenian Genocide.
The first speaker at the commemoration was Dr. Garabet Moumdjian. He thoughtfully outlined the powerful role the nation-states have played in orchestrating genocides. He also discussed the many dimensions of the denial of the Armenian Genocide. The second speaker was Brad Brian, a distinguished attorney with Munger, Tolles & Olson, LLP who has been very active in the effort to bolster the legal rights of Darfurians. Other speakers included Jewish Holocaust & Global Genocide Issues expert Ms. Naama Haviv and Congolese Genocide expert Martine Mfwilwakanda.
Representatives of the Pasadena Armenian Youth Federation, “Nigol Touman” Chapter participated in the event by maintaining an informational desk that was full of books and other literature on the Armenian Genocide.
The Pasadena ANC advocates for the social, economic, cultural, and political rights of the area’s Armenian American community and promotes increased Armenian American civic participation at the grassroots and public policy levels.
